MPs want illicit brew victims compensated

Members of Parliament from Kiambu County have called on the government to compensate families of those who died from consuming illicit brew.

MPs Alice Wambui Ng’ang’a (Thika), Francis Waititu Munyua (Juja) Ferdinand Ngugi Waititu (Kabete) and Jude Jomo (Kiambu) said they will collect names of people who died from consuming second generation to court to push for compensation from the Kiambu County Government.

The MPs accused Governor William Kabogo of going against President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive on illicit and second generation liquor by issuing new licenses to bar outlets instead of reducing the existing ones.

Ms. Ng’ang’a said Kabogo was more concerned with revenue at the expense of the lives of the county residents.

She said during Kabogo’s tenure alcohol outlets have increased from 90 to 587 warning the governor against opposing anti-illicit brew war.

On his part, Waititu said Kiambu would have prospered if Kabogo worked with other leaders and respected the President’s directive.

He said Parliament will soon come up with a new policy regulating the licensing of bars adding that being President Kenyatta’s home county, Kiambu ought to be number one in contributing towards national development.

The MPs were speaking in Thika during a public participation meeting convened by the County Government of Kiambu to discuss licensing of bars.